In the already crowded and explored midsize compact SUV, when Renault announced their entry, everyone tried to figure what Renault could offer apart from what the other manufacturers are already offering. At the first glance of the Renault Kiger, it seemed to be a very average compact SUV which didn’t have the wow factor that Indians like. But where Renault proved us all wrong was when it introduced the pricing of the Kiger. Starting at just 5.45 lakhs and topping out at 9.72 lakhs, it is the cheapest in the segment. But does that mean the Kiger is worthy of your money? Let’s find out.
By the looks of the Kiger, it does not disappoint. With its wide stance, ground clearance and big bonnet, the Kiger can’t be mistaken for anything but a compact SUV. The Kiger looks rugged and can be easily differentiated from the car with which it shares the same platform, Nissan Magnite. And yes, from the front it looks like the Kwid on steroids but it doesn’t matter, because the dual headlamp set up really suits the Kiger, thanks to the hunky bonet and the greases running over its body. The back of the Kiger is very distinctive too. The C-shaped fully LED tail lamps really suit the shape of the Kiger. You can option the Kiger with a blacked out roof. The Kiger is offered with 16 inch machine cut alloy wheels which are just fine, though Renault have saved them for just the top variant. The Kiger definitely looks more SUV-ish than its direct rival, the Magnite. The design department of Renault has done a really good job in giving character to the car and they definitely deserve to be appreciated.
Kiger is offered with two engine options, a 1.0 litre naturally aspirated engine and a 1.0 litre turbo charged engine. The 1.0 litre engine makes 72 hp and 95 nm of torque. These figures are not sufficient considering the the size of the car. The power delivery is slow and the engine gets noisy as it reaches high speeds. Insulation inside the cabin is not the best in the segment either. I won’t recommend the 1.0 litre engine naturally aspirated engine since it just doesn’t go with the character of the car and is best suited for grandmas. Things change drastically when the 1.0 litre turbo charged engine comes to the picture. The turbo charged unit produced 100 horses and 160nm of torque. The engine feels no short of power. It feels punchy to drives and there is a surge of power as soon you put your foot down . Though the engine is not the most refined in the segment and does get noisy when you push it hard but that’s pretty much all you can complain with it. Yes, it might not be as good as the ones offered by the Hyundai and Tata in their compact SUVs but it isn’t far from them either, also you can’t ask for more at the price at which the Kiger is being offered. If Kiger is going to be your primary car, I’ll strongly recommend the upgrade to the 1.0 litre turbo engine.
There isn’t anything flashy about the Kiger’s interior but its not dull either. It is decently feature packed too. The plastics used in the cabin are just fine and there are almost no soft touch materials. But the way how every plastic panel has a different texture to them doesn’t let the cabin feel hard to the user. What stands out is the 7 inch instrument cluster which looks very premium and the graphics are sharp too. Also, on offer are 3 drive mode and is controlled by a nob in the centre panel. Some other stand out features include wireless charger, ambient lighting, LED headlamps and tail lights, puddle lamps,8 inch touchscreen with wireless Android auto and Apple CarPlay. Arkamy’s 8 speaker audio system, PM 2.5 Air filter. In general, Yes, you won’t get that luxury feel that you might get from some of its rivals but the Kiger offers just enough to keep you happy alongside the money you saved.
Another area where the Kiger impresses the most is the backseat space. The car has more than enough legroom and knee room to fit your family of 5. Kiger offers a 12 Volt USB socket in the back to keep your phone charged. Now when it comes to the boot space of the Kiger, it leaves all of it competitors behind with a massive boot of 405 litres. The suspension of the Kiger is stiff and allow shocks inside the cabin while going through potholes but for casual city driving, they do a good job.
MY VERDICT
Renault has proved that it has the lineup to leave a mark in the Indian Market. Kiger is a very capable product. It gives the experience of a compact SUV at the price of a hatchback. With a very vast option list, the Kiger has something to offer to every buyer. If you’re on a budget and are looking for an SUV, you should definitely take a loot at the Kiger.
The CarGuy 